West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-08-04


| ground, and was just starting with it
| toward the well when he was rudely
I shaken by the collar and heard a voice
/ say; "What are YOU doing here. m
I teach you To set fires TO burn up folks i'm
their beds, you black rascal.'
Ill never d-d-done IL. " said Gen.
/ eral, his teeth chattcring with the shak
ing and terror. "L.l-let me gow Ho
/ tried in vain TO tear himself from the
! powerful grasp of his accuser.
"Ill let you go-to Jail, as soon as
there's chance, replied the man. as no
pushed General into small shed, and
closed the door.
There was but one window TO the
shed, and that was near the roof, too
high Tor him to think Of reaching. He
fling himself against the door again and
again; but it had been securely fastened
ON the outside.
"Sin an Ignorance done conquer dis
time, sho' nuT, soliliquized General.
mournfully. He felt that there was
small chance of his story being believed.
Inc pretty lady whom he had meant 10
serve would think that he set the fire.
/ As the sound of the hurry and con,
fusion without increased, new fear
came to him. Perhaps the house would
burn down, and the shed would catch
fire, and he would be left to perish in the
flames. He shouted several times: but
his voice, If heard was not needed. At
last, the more subdued tones and slower
movements indicated that all danger was
over.
Day was beginning TO dawn when the
shed door was opened, and General was
summoned forth, to confront the crowd
of men and boys who had assembled at
the alarm.
Perhaps he ought to have looked nol,iy
heroic and confident in the consciousness
of innocence; but candor compels tho
admission that, as he stood there in his
ragged coat, the encouragement and
misery in his face and attitude might
have been mistaken for the evidence of
guilt.
why, it's Nose Stubbs's boyw ex.
claimed bystander. II allus knew
they was a low-down family; but l
didn't s'pose none of 'em would do such
thing"
"You all avoided a mighty narrer,
escape" said another in tones which
General fanced had familiar harshness.
''lf hadn't "a seen the fire Jest as did,
nothing wouldn't "a saved yer"
why, General, is this your, ex,
claimed surprised voice. 1t was the
pretty lady, who with others had lust
advanced to look at the supposed in
cendiary
eyes, miss, that's the boy that set the
fire, " replied the former speaker.
NO, miss, please miss, | never done
1T, ~ pleaded the lad, as he met the dis
tressed, plying eyes of the lady. 81
was trying to 'stinguish it,"
How came you here at that time or
nightl" demanded one of the men.
General looked at his accuser i'm con.
fused, timid manner and made no reply.
The pretty lady saw that he was
frightened, and stepping closer to him,
said, kindly: ~ don't believe YOU did il.
General You'll tell me the whole truth
will you notl'
Thus encouraged, and aided by many
questions, General related the whole
story Of the night When the narrative
was finished, the man who had been so
loud in his accusations was missing. He
had said something about being in "A
hurry TO get to his work, and had hur-
Ticd away.
Generals tale was not at first received
with confidence by all his hearers. Some
OF them even doubted the possibility of
his getting into the gun; but that obiec-
ton was easily removed by his repeating
the manGuvre in the presence Of wit
nesscs. The sudden disappearance of
his accuscr, who was never seen again i'm
thai region, was another point in his
favor, and when the last suspicion was
cleared away, General found himself the
hero OF the occasion
lie was provided with a new suit or
clothes, and sent TO school, where he was
dilligent and faithful pupil
The Stubs family have long ago
moved from their leaning cabin on the
shore 10 n neat and commodious cottage
on higher ground; and General, as
farmer, teacher and preacher, with spade,
spelling book and sermon, is battling
manfully against sin and ignorance
among his people Youths Companion.